Staff Reports
The Department of Economic Opportunity on Monday forwarded three sports applications to state lawmakers for review, suggesting all three might be worthy of funding.
Chris Hudson, state director for Americans for Prosperity—Florida, said in a statement:
“Legislators should focus on the real needs of their constituents. In 2015 lawmakers stood strong against handing out public money to privately-owned sports teams, and we implore them to continue to put their constituents ahead of special interests. DEO is making some fatally risky assumptions that these activities would not have taken place without the incentive money, especially considering that all three applicants have already started undertaking their renovations, and some are almost completed. Government is not a bank and should not be at the disposal of wealthy sports franchises to enrich themselves on the backs of taxpayers. Enough is enough!”
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The state House is advancing legislation that would further regulate abortion clinics in Florida.
The measure (HB 1411) passed the House health care appropriations subcommittee 9-4. The bill requires abortion clinics that perform abortions after the first trimester to have a written transfer agreement with a hospital within a reasonable distance to the clinic. It also requires doctors who perform abortions at a clinic to have admitting privileges at a hospital within a reasonable distance.
Laura Goodhue, executive director of the Florida Alliance of Planned Parenthood Affiliates, said in a statement:
“Florida women who have suffered attacks on their rights and access to health care year after year woke up on this Groundhog Day to find politicians are at it again.
“The legislature is fostering a poisonous environment by using a debunked smear campaign against Planned Parenthood as the rationale to take away Florida women’s access to abortion and other reproductive health services.
“In fact, these false accusations have already harmed countless women: states such as Alabama, Arkansas, and Louisiana have taken action to cut women off from access to preventive health care at Planned Parenthood health centers since these false videos emerged and we’re facing additional restrictions on access to care in places around the country.
“It’s time to put an end to these reckless and dangerous lies.”
